Fuji, Please

I am becoming more like my Mom. In almost every sense I would say that is a good thing, but there is a disturbing trait that I am starting to display, one that I have harassed her about for years on end.

See - my Mom is the person that waves at you when you're actually waving at your friend, who happens to be standing behind her. Those Madonna-like headphone/microphone ensembles that the employees wear at stores like The Gap and Old Navy? She almost always thinks they're talking to her, when they are in fact asking the dressing room attendant for a price check on a cardigan. Herein lies the disturbing part...

A couple of weeks ago I was at Trader Joe's over lunch. I love fuji apples and eat them several times a week for breakfast, so I headed over to the apple section to replenish my supply. In case you haven't been there, this is the point in the story where I should mention that Trader Joe's employees are really friendly. They're chipper and bubbly, always helpful, and just excited enough that if I didn't love their food I would probably hate them. So that is why, when I was scanning the apple bins, engrossed in the search for my beloved fujis and someone walked up and said, "Honey - what kind do you want?" I assumed it was an energetic, hawaiian shirt clad employee, stopping by to help me pick out my apples.

I said, "Oh, thank you! I am looking for the Fujis" and then looked up to see a Mom, holding her daughter's hand and asking the child what kind of apples she wanted. They both stared at me for several seconds before I resumed my apple bin picking, face bright red with embarrassment. Its now only a matter of time before I can no longer shop at The Gap and will have to resist waving at anyone on the street, even if I am sure its my husband. Thanks, Mom.

{Photo from cannelle et vanille's flickr stream}